K-pop singer Sung Han-bin marks debut with $66,000 charity donationSinger Sung Han-bin is marking the third anniversary of his debut with a donation of 100 million won ($66,300) to support children and teenagers from vulnerable families, turning a personal milestone into an effort to help others pursue their dreams. His agency said Monday that Sung donated the funds to Good Neighbors on Thursday to commemorate his third debut anniversary. The donation will support the nonprofit organization's Hope Sharing Dream Support Program, which provides career education and scholarships to children and adolescents facing economic hardship. The program is designed to help young people continue pursuing their educational and career goals without giving up because of financial difficulties. According to the agency, Sung decided to make the donation as a way of expressing gratitude to fans who have supported him throughout his career. The agency said Sung wanted to share the encouragement he received while pursuing his own dream with children and teenagers who need support to build their futures. Sung debuted in 2023 after appearing on Mnet's survival audition program "Jul 13, 2026By Lee Kyung-min
BTS leaves fans hunting for London Korean restaurant after post-show feastAfter wrapping up two sold-out concerts in London, BTS reunited for a relaxed team dinner that quickly caught fans' attention — not because of the stage, but because of what was on the table. On Saturday, V shared a series of photos on social media with the short caption "GB." The images showed all seven BTS members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — gathered around a table at a Korean restaurant after completing the London leg of their world tour. Having changed into casual clothes after the concerts, the group posed while enjoying a traditional Korean meal featuring grilled pork belly, along with soybean paste stew and other Korean dishes. The photos quickly drew attention online, with fans expressing envy over the restaurant visit as well as curiosity about its location. "That restaurant just hit the jackpot," one fan said, while another said, "I want to know where it is." BTS performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on July 6 and 7 as part of its ongoing “ARIRANG” world tour. This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited byJul 13, 2026By Xportsnews
InterviewARMY's greatest strength is resilience: scholar on BTSWhen online communities grow large enough, conflict is almost inevitable. Anonymous interactions, differing expectations and cultural divides can fracture even the most devoted fandoms. Yet one global community continues to defy that pattern, according to Lee Ji-heng, assistant professor in the Department of K-Entertainment at Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) and a scholar of fandom studies. "ARMY's greatest strength is not its organization or ability to mobilize," Lee, referring to the BTS fandom, told The Korea Times in a written interview. "It is its resilience." It is a striking claim, given that organization is precisely what ARMY is best known for. Formed in 2013, shortly after BTS' debut under what was then a little-known agency, the fandom has grown from a modest local fan club into arguably the most influential fan community in popular music. Over the years, it has powered record-breaking streaming, voting campaigns and even coordinated charity drives. Yet like any other online-based community, ARMY experiences its share of conflict. For all its reputation of maturity, Lee acknJul 12, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
From 'Blood, Sweat & Tears' to chill, CORTIS captures K-pop's new moodSomething about CORTIS just hits differently from other K-pop groups. There is no sophisticated fictional universe or elaborate lore surrounding the members. No mystique designed to keep fans on edge. No metallic beats dominating their music. Much of the formula that has come to define K-pop is conspicuously absent from CORTIS. The decision to take a different path came from a bold acceptance of the fact that conventional methods, such as building elaborate lore around a group, could take CORTIS only so far in expanding its fan base. And it paid off. People in their 40s and 50s, a generation that has largely remained outside the core K-pop fandom, suddenly began to notice the group and, more importantly, like it. To some, CORTIS represents change itself. The most high-profile figure to make that connection was newly appointed Prime Minister Han Sung-sook, who quoted the group’s lyrics while pledging the change she intended to bring to the country. The obvious question, then, is what exactly about CORTIS has won over so many middle-aged listeners and led them to embrace the group as a syJul 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Why is coed K-pop group KARD ending its journey?KARD, one of the few coed groups in the current K-pop landscape, will end its 10-year run the way it spent most of it — as an exception. The quartet filled venues across Europe and the Americas for years, yet never converted that momentum into comparable recognition at home. The first full-length album of its career, out July 28, will also be its last. DSP Media announced Monday that the group will disband after releasing "Where To Now? (Part.2): NOWHERE" and wrapping a final world tour, closing a journey that began with the pre-debut single "Oh NaNa" in December 2016. "After careful discussions with all four members, we have agreed to conclude KARD's journey following these activities," the agency said, asking fans to support BM, J.Seph, Somin and Jiwoo as they move on to individual careers. That a group could tour the world for a decade before releasing a full-length album says much about how KARD operated, and about the market that barely made room for it. Modern K-pop runs on fandom. Physical album sales, music show votes and concert revenue are driven by "superfans," the deeply engJul 10, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS faces 'SWIM' plagiarism lawsuit in US as BigHit Music denies allegationsBTS has been hit with a plagiarism lawsuit in the United States over its song “SWIM,” prompting agency BigHit Music to firmly reject the allegations and vow to fight the case in court. "The lawsuit contains only the plaintiffs' unilateral claims," BigHit Music told Xportsnews Friday. "We clearly maintain that 'SWIM' is an independent, original work. We will respond firmly through the legal process." The statement came after Billboard reported Thursday that songwriters Steve Cooper, John Sandler and Graylin Johnson filed a lawsuit the previous day, alleging that BTS' “SWIM” is substantially similar to a demo song of the same title that they had written. According to the report, the complaint names HYBE, HYBE America, BigHit Music and several songwriters credited on “SWIM,” including Ryan Tedder, the front man of American pop-rock band OneRepublic. BTS leader RM is also credited as one of the song's writers. However, the plaintiffs did not name any of the BTS members as defendants in the lawsuit. The case is expected to proceed through the U.S. legal system, where the court willJul 10, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS to stage 'The City' event in New YorkK-pop supergroup BTS will hold a large-scale fan event in New York to celebrate its world tour stop in a neighboring city later this month, its agency BigHit Music said Friday. The event, titled "BTS The City Arirang New York," will run from July 24 (local time) through Aug. 3, alongside the group's "Arirang" world tour concerts scheduled for Aug. 1-2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. As part of the program, Grand Central Terminal, one of New York's busiest and most historic landmarks with an average daily foot traffic of around 750,000, will be transformed with visuals themed around BTS' fifth full-length album, "Arirang." Red posters reflecting the album's key color will be installed throughout the terminal, according to the agency. Vanderbilt Hall, located inside the terminal, will host an "ARMY Madang," where stage outfits worn by the group during its 2019 Wembley Stadium concerts in London will be displayed. Additional fan-focused events and interactive programs are also planned. "ARMY" is the name of the K-pop septet's devoted fandom. "The City" project is a large-Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Le Sserafim to launch 2nd world tour in IncheonK-pop girl group Le Sserafim will kick off its second world tour with a two-day concert in Incheon on Saturday and Sunday, the group's agency Source Music said Friday. The "Pureflow" tour is built around the message of the group's second full-length album, "Pureflow Pt. 1," released in May, according to the agency. "If you listen to the album beforehand, you will be able to enjoy the show even more," the members said in a release. "While our first world tour reflected the journey we have taken so far, this tour will mark a new beginning." Following the Incheon shows, the group will head to Osaka for concerts on July 25 and 26, before continuing the tour across Asia, North America and Europe. The five-month tour will span 32 performances in 23 cities before concluding in Manila on Dec. 5 and 6.Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
Hanroro's 'Landing in Love' most-streamed song in Korea in 1st halfSinger-songwriter Hanroro's "Landing in Love" was the most-streamed song in Korea during the first half of the year, while the boy group BTS topped album sales with its latest album, "Arirang," industry data showed Friday. According to a midyear report from the Korea Popmusic Industry Association, which operates the Circle Chart, the track from Hanroro's debut EP, "Take-off," ranked No. 1 in both the digital and streaming categories for the January-June period. Released in August 2023, the song gained popularity through word of mouth among younger listeners to become her signature hit. It has remained in the top 10 of the Circle Chart's weekly digital and streaming charts since late November, cementing its status as one of the defining songs of the first half of the year. BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang" was the highest-selling album, with 4,224,016 copies sold during the same period. Released March 20, the 14-track album explores the identity of BTS as a group that began in Korea and the universal emotions its members have encountered throughout their lives. While the association announJul 10, 2026By Yonhap
TXT's Yeonjun to drop 2nd solo albumYeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together (TXT) will release his second individual album Friday, his agency BigHit Music said. The EP, titled "No Labels: Part 02," set for release at 1 p.m., marks the first release from Yeonjun in about eight months after his first solo record, "No Labels: Part 01." The new album consists of six tracks, including the lead track "Ice Cream," "Vanilla" and "No More Disco." Yeonjun took part in creating the choreography for "Ice Cream" and penning the lyrics for "Baby Wassup?" and "Long Way Long Ride." "Ice Cream" is a summer song that portrays a relationship where two people maintain a certain distance despite being sweet to each other. "I felt selecting 'Ice Cream' as the lead track was the right decision, as it best reflects my color in this album," Yeonjun said. "It is a song that shows both my exterior and inner self." Yeonjun is set to take the stage as a solo artist on ABC's "Good Morning America" Summer Concert Series on Aug. 7 (U.S. time).Jul 10, 2026By Yonhap
